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Termites can cause serious property damage in a relatively short amount of time. Many people end up with more than one termite colony in their home at a time, because the colonies will expand each spring. When you are building a home or a building for your business on property that has been home to woods, you may be looking at how you can prevent termites from eating through your new building.

What Is a Pretreatment for Termites?

Pretreatment is a treatment that is done before the building is done. The pretreatment can be done in different stages of the building. One option is to treat the soil that the concrete slab is going to be built on. You can also treat the concrete itself and any gravel or infill that is put back into the area. The pretreatment works the same way a termite treatment does and creates a barrier that will keep the termites out.

How Long Does a Termite Pretreatment Last?

A pretreatment will last for up to five years, but the length of the effectiveness depends on how damp your soil is—the wetter it is the shorter the period that it is effective, which means if you have an exceptionally wet year or two, it may shorten how long the pretreatment will be effective. It also depends on the different treatments were applied.

How Can I Request a Termite Pretreatment?

Your exterminator can work with your builder to determine the correct time to complete the treatments. The treatments may also depend on the condition of the property before you began building. With proper scheduling, the pretreatments will not need to cut into your timeline of the build.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent Termites?

There are a few more things that you can do as a property is being built to prevent termites in the future. The first is to remove all existing wood from the area where you are building, this includes removing the stumps may be underground. This removes potential food sources that may attract termites to your property. Any wood that touches the ground needs to be treated for termites. This is especially important for wood for your deck since that is attached to your home. Finally encapsulating your crawlspace when your home is built can add an extra layer of protection against termites. This can also save you on your cooling and heating bills.

Bed bugs are one of the growing nightmares that many U.S. residents. Even though they were once nearly eradicated in the United States they have made a huge comeback in the United States in the last twenty years. Most people associate bed bugs with travel, but that is only one of the places you can pick up bed bugs.

Schools have actually become one of the places where you can pick up bed bugs. Children who have a bed bug infestation at home will inadvertently bring the bed bugs to school inside of their backpacks. Once the bed bugs get to school, they will spread out throughout the school. They can also move from one backpack to another. If they ride home in another child’s backpack, they will begin an infestation at that home. Bed bug eggs can hatch in just six days and begin feeding right away.

How Can I Stop Bed Bugs from Coming Home with My Child?

This is a difficult situation because it is not overly common. However, once it starts at a school it can quickly become a problem. Schools have banned backpacks at school while they are trying to deal with an infestation and to stop it from spreading. If you hear someone mention bed bugs in the carpool line or at a school event, you may want to consider not using a backpack.

What Should I Do If My Child’s School Reports an Issues with Bed Bugs?

The first thing is to not to panic. If the school has an issue with bed bugs there will be a plan in place to identify the source of the issue and to stop the spread. Be sure to follow any instructions that the school gives. You will likely want to stop sending a backpack to school. Bed bug infestations need to be severe to have your child bring bed bugs home in their clothes, but you can check them when they come home. Drying the clothing on high heat will kill any bugs that may be in them.

Do I Need to Worry About Bed Bugs for My Child at Boarding School or in the Dorm?

This is actually a growing problem in dorms. The schools should have a protocol in place, but you need to be careful when your children come home for breaks or for the summer. Check their suitcases and consider treating them and all their clothing, either by freezing them for several days or running everything through on high heat.

At one time or another, mice may be a problem that most homeowners may have to deal with. There are steps that you can take to prevent rodents from getting into your home. If you have recently noticed rodents in your home, you may want to take these steps. However, it is a good idea to complete these steps every year to stop any problems before they start.

Make Sure Mice Are Not Attracted to Your Home

According to the article What Attracts Mice to Your Home?, mice come into your home looking for food and shelter. They want an easy source of water and food. If you can store your food in your sealed containers, it is less likely that the mice will get into your home. Taking the garbage out on a regular basis will also eliminate the things that attract the mice to your home. Clearing out any clutter will also help prevent mice since it will be more difficult for people to hide.

Do an Inspection of the Exterior of Your Home

In addition to clearing out your home of things that may attract mice, you should take the time inspect the exterior or your home at least once a year. There are several areas that you need to check to make sure that rodents and other animals cannot get in.

Check the foundation of your home. As you walk around the exterior of your home, check where the foundation meets the siding of your home. Look for any weakened or rotted areas that would be easy for a rodent to chew a hole into. Repair any of these areas. Mice and other animals may take advantage of weakness caused by termites, and you will need to repair that to avoid future issues.

Check your crawl space if you have one. In addition to the foundation, you should visually check your crawl space if possible. The rodents may be making nests under your home and then crawling up inside of your home in search of food. Some crawl spaces make it easy to check, while others are more difficult. If you can check, you may be able to quickly identify the problem.

Check pipes leading into your home. If there have been any leaks, it weakens the wood and makes it easy for the animals to get in. Repair the wood around the pipes and install deterrents like steel wool or traps to prevent the animals from getting in again.

Look at your roof. If branches are hanging over the roof, you should trim them back. Be sure that each vent has a grate or screen over it that will keep rodents and other insects out. If you can see holes under your eaves protect them. Repairing any loose shingles will also protect your home.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

If you have completed this inspection and you are still having troubles, you may want to call a professional to have another set of eyes that can identify where the mice are getting in. An exterminator can help you clear up the problem and install exclusion barriers to prevent rodents getting in again.

There are many issues that rodents can cause when they invade your home. They can damage your property, but according to the article Dangers of a Rodent Infestation, one of the biggest issues is the diseases that rodents can spread either through their feces or through direct contact. Here are some of the most common diseases and their symptoms.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a deadly disease. It is found in the urine and feces that mice leave behind. People catch this disease when they inhale the dried urine. This usually happens when cleaning up after a rodent infestation which is why it is important to wear a mask and gloves when cleaning up after rodents. Symptoms include tiredness and muscle aches in the hips and backs. After the initial symptoms, the patient will have trouble breathing as their lungs fill with fluid. This has a mortality rate of nearly forty percent.

Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is also spread by inhaling the dried urine and feces of mice. It can be passed from person to person. Signs of the disease include tired ness and a mild fever. However, it can become more serious and lead to hemorrhaging, vomiting and difficulty breathing. Some people will go deaf after contracting the disease. Women who contract this when pregnant have a much higher mortality rate with the disease.

Plague

The plague can be spread through a flea that is infected or from direct contact with the infected animal. Symptoms of the plague vary by the type that you contract. There may be large swelling of the lymph nodes, or the hands or feet may turn black or the patient may have trouble breathing. There are medications that can treat the disease. This is not a disease that you wait to see if it will get better, you should seek medical treatment right away.

Salmonellosis

This is a common illness that is spread by rodents and other pests. This is an illness that can give you abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. You may also vomit. There may be blood in the diarrhea. Usually it will develop within three days of exposure and it can last up to a week. It can lead to typhoid fever and other issues. This often resolves on its own, but it is important to make sure the patient stays hydrated while they are suffering from it.

Tularemia

Tularemia is a bacterium that can be spread by handling the animals or by ingesting contaminated food or water. The disease may act differently depending on how you were exposed to it. It can cause a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes or even pneumonia with difficulty breathing and chest pains. It can also cause ulcers on your hands if you caught it by touching an animal or being bitten.

There are three basic types of termites in the United States. Termites can destroy a home as they eat their way through the wood inside of it. The type of termites you need to worry about may be based on the area of the country that you live. Here are the three basic types found in the United States.

Subterranean Termite

The Eastern subterranean termites are termites that are found primarily underground in the Eastern part of the United States, According to “Eastern Subterranean Termites,” these termites will make their nests outside underground. They will tunnel from their nests to the food source or into your house. When crawling up your foundation to the wood in your home, they will create mud tubes to protect themselves. They will only eat spring wood or along the grain. As the food runs out the entire colony may move onto another area and build a new nest. Other types of subterranean termites can be found throughout the United States.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites are commonly found along the Pacific coast, but they are also found throughout the United States. They can also cause problems in the southwest deserts and in Florida. The dampwood termites tend to make their homes in damp and decaying wood that can be found on the ground. They tend to eat across the grain and the wood looks neat and clean after they have eaten it. They need damp wood to thrive and so addressing leaks and plumbing issues can help you avoid issues with this type of termite.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites do not live in the soil. They will make their nests directly in the wood. They do not need damp wood to make their homes. Drywood nests are often found in the attics of homes. The main way people identify them is by noticing the fecal pellets which are about a 1 millimeter in length and hexagonal in shape. These termites can be found throughout the United States. Since these termites live in dry wood, it can be more difficult to find an infestation, unless you are regularly check your attic and other areas where they may make their home.

The best way to protect yourself from termites is to schedule annual inspections. An exterminator can quickly identify the different signs of termites and especially for the ones that are common where you are living. Termites are a very common issue for most homeowners, but if you treat for them and repair any damages that they cause, your home value should stay the same.

Bed bugs can quickly multiply and bringing one or two home from a hotel can quickly turn into an infestation. Bed bugs are difficult to kill because they are resistant to many insecticides. There are a few steps that you must take when dealing with a bed bug infestation.

Identify the Problem

The first step is identifying where you have bed bugs or if you are dealing with something else like fleas. You can look for signs in your bedding and around your bed. There may be blood stains on your sheets or droppings in your bedding. It is also important to find where the nest is. They may make their nest in a very small crack.

Contact the Professionals

The easiest way to get rid of bed bugs is to call in a professional. The exterminator will be able to determine if you do have bed bugs and find any nests they bed bugs may have created. Since the bed bugs are resistant to many types of insecticide, they may choose to use heat remediation to take care of the bed bugs.

Prepare Your Home for a Treatment

You will need to take steps to prepare your home. One of the biggest steps you will need to complete is washing all of your bedding in hot water and drying them in a high heat dryer. This will kill the adult bugs, the larvae and the eggs. You may also want to check your luggage and other areas that may have been affected.

Prevent Future Infestations

Since it takes so much work to clear up a bed bug infestation, it makes sense to take what steps you can to avoid bringing them home. In the article “5 Steps to Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home on Your Next Trip”, it recommends checking your hotel room when you first check in and then to take the time to check your luggage when you come home. Be careful when you buy second hand furniture since this can also bring in bed bugs.

Fire ants are well-known in the southern United States for their fierce burning sting and the nests that they build. Anyone that was experience the sting of a fire ant does not want to experience it again. These small red ants are notorious for causing severe pain. Here are five interesting facts about fire ants.

1. Fire Ants Are Not Native to North America

Fire ants are not native to North America. They were brought to the area by boat from South America. The first state with reported issues was Alabama in the 1930s. They have proved quite invasive as they have spread throughout the southern United States. They have been identified in 18 states including as far north as Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

2. Fire Ants Like Electrical Equipment

Fire ants are the leading cause of electrical equipment. They are known to crawl into air conditioners, and other electrical items like traffic lights. When shocked by a wire, they will sting the wire and emit a chemical that will attract other ants and eventually it shorts out the equipment they have invaded. According to Wikipedia, fire ants are the leading cause of stop lights shorting out in Texas each year.

3. Fire Ants Nests Spread Out

Fire ant mounds are typically about 18 inches high and may be as big as 30 inches wide. However, the mound itself is not a good indication of how big the colony really is. The ants will enter through tunnels that can be up to 25 feet away from the nest itself. The colonies can have as many as 250,000 ants in each one.

4. Fire Ants Can Hunt and Kill Small Animals

Fire ants are omnivores which means they will eat both plants and animals. They have been known to work together to kill small animals as a source of food for their colony. When they sting they will emit a chemical that attracts other ants from the colony who will also sting. This can overwhelm a small animal.

5. Fire Ants Can Cause Allergic Reactions

Although most people just receive an itchy sting or bite, some people are allergic to red ant bites. The symptoms are similar to those of people who allergic to bee stings. If you are dizzy, having trouble breathing or your tongue is swelling, you should seek immediate medical attention.

If you have fire ants you should treat them immediately. However, since they have such large nests and tunneling systems, it can be difficult to kill off the entire colony with products from the store. It is best to contact a professional to help you treat the fire ants that you have on your property. Learn more about fire ant extermination services from EcoTek Termite and Pest Control

Hаvіng these bugѕ can create a lot of рrоblеmѕ еѕресіаllу fоr people who wаnt to hаvе a good rеѕt. Whіlе ѕоmе mау nоt notice bеd bug bіtеѕ, оthеrѕ may also еxреrіеnсе ѕеvеrе іnflаmmаtіоn аnd, оn ѕоmе оссаѕіоnѕ, аn іnfесtіоn. Seeking a company that specializes in bed bug extermination is your best option, but if you can’t afford it, there are some DIY methods that can be quite effective. Regardless оf thе саѕе, іt’ѕ іmроrtаnt to lеаrn hоw tо thеѕе blооdѕuсkеrѕ fоr a healthier and happier life.

Should you be handling bed bugs in Durham NC, you ought not equate this with sanitation or filthiness difficulties. To begin with, you may rather not act impulsively and kill bed bugs immediately. Bed bugs are extremely common wherever you travel as any pest control company will tell you. They are not dirty critters. They are becoming a real problem all over again. They are becoming a global problem. Perhaps you will wish to buy a bed bug deterring bag.

Should you really want to do away with bed bugs, you must take an inventory of your home and generate a zoning system. It is possible to eradicate bed bugs in 1 treatment thanks to our eco-friendly pest control products! You’re able to eradicate bed bugs in 1 treatment. You can’t cure bed bugs with any 1 solution.

If you may find this done, it is going to be simpler for you to eliminate bed bugs. Lots of people employ many means to do away with the bed bugs. In case you are serious, and really need to eliminate bed bugs, you must attack the problem due to the fact that many ways as possible. The bed bugs will nonetheless infest your mattress and crawl around to secure you. Bed bugs are among the most relentless insects on the planet. They love to hide and lay eggs in these kinds of materials.

A pest management professional will have the ability to inform you for sure when you have an infestation and supply you with a plan on how best to repair your problem. There is a variety of experts too, who apply the optimal/optimally pest control methods to eliminate the insect from the neighborhood of your homes and surrounding areas. Your pest control specialist will counsel you on what should be done in order to treat your house and prevent an upcoming bed bug infestation.

As mentioned, zero chemicals are employed within this process so that your property, furniture, and living space won’t be adversely affected by something which could damage your well being. It usually means that we’re absorbing, inhaling and ingesting these chemicals before being aware of it. Here at EcoTek Termite and Pest Control, we believe that pesticides aren’t meant for indoor use. Another method you may do is to spray organic pesticide or insecticide within your home or in a place where there’s an infestation. Aside from the dust, it is also possible to utilize contact insecticides.

To learn more about our pest control services in Durham, NC, please visit:

In the following column you will learn of some organic remedies for bed bugs that will help you handle the infestation with safety. It’s the perfect treatment for severe infestation.

You will nonetheless have plenty of mosquitoes and you’ll need to take specific precautions against exactly these insects. The insect can’t withstand extreme temperatures. There are a number of different insects, pests that can be found in your home.

In case the infestation gets out of control, then the very best option which you have is to get in touch with an expert exterminator in Durham. In the long term, a full blown infestation might need an expert exterminator. Because the pests continue to come up with resistance to pesticides a wide selection of treatments have to be used as a treatment for an infestation. The pests just cannot survive the extreme heat and this way is safe, dependable and convenient. These pests find it impossible to survive the 130 degree maintained heat this approach provides.

Not all pest removal businesses offer you canine services, so make sure to ask about this method prior to choosing a company to manage a problem. A specialist pest control business will use many distinct approaches and methods to deal with your bed bug issue.

The demand for pest control is a typical problem, particularly if you are now living in a hot, moist climate. Usually the ideal solution is to discover an expert aid in a kind of pest control company. Still, once the demand for pest removal arises, there are a number of things you should know so as to make your efforts more effective. Possessing some non-toxic control products out there for fast action may prevent you from several nights of misery. After acknowledging the little know-whats, it’ll be time to finally initiate the mission–killing bed bugs. It’s far better inspect any likelihood of these bugs. Wherever you go, there’s a chance you’ll be exposed to bed bugs.

The issue with some of the pest control treatments is they are simply not powerful. It’s the reason why they’ve come to be an issue. Naturally, the major issue with bedbugs is that you can’t find these creatures. These bugs live an extremely sheltered lifestyle.